Gästebereich » to the mound Wednesday

Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - Former top-10 star James Blakes singles career came to an end on a rainy Wednesday at the U.S. Open. Ivo Karlovic of Croatia fired 38 aces past Blake to claim a 6-7 (2-7), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2) victory in a match that lasted over three hours. Blakes only other first-round loss here came in 1999. "I dont know when its going to hit me. I dont think Ill be sleeping a lot tonight," Blake said. Blake announced Monday that this would be his last tournament. The 33-year-old American ended his career with 10 singles titles. He reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in 2005 and 2006 and Australian Open in 2008, and also landed in the final at the Tennis Masters Cup in 2006. "Its hitting me now Im never going to have this again in my life, a teary- eyed Blake said. "That ovation makes me realize every bit of hard work is worth it." In 2004, while practicing with fellow American Robby Ginepri in Rome, Blake broke his neck when he slipped on a clay court and collided with the net post. In July of that year, his father died of stomach cancer. At the same time, Blake developed shingles, which temporarily paralyzed half his face and blurred his sight. Blake was the ATPs Comeback Player of the Year in 2005 and was named the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year in 2008. Meanwhile, defending champion Andy Murray and former title winner Juan Martin del Potro posted first-round wins on Wednesday. The third-seeded Murray cruised past French left-hander Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. The reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open titlist beat Novak Djokovic in last years final in Flushing and was a runner-up here in 2008. Murray will next do battle with Leonardo Mayer, who took down Victor Hanescu 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4). The sixth-seeded 2009 champion del Potro snuck past Guillermo Garcia-Lopez by a 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) margin in a match that lasted over four hours on a rainy Wednesday. Garcia-Lopez saved three match points in the final tiebreaker before del Potro put him away. The last time del Potro came into the U.S. Open seeded No. 6 was four years ago and he went on to capture the title. Next up for del Potro is former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, who defeated American Brian Baker by a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 score. Hewitt, who captured the U.S. Open in 2001 and was the 2004 runner-up to Roger Federer, improved his impressive record at Flushing Meadows to 44-11. Stanislas Wawrinka, the No. 9 seed, discarded Czech Radek Stepanek 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-2. The 28-year-old Wawrinka will take on Karlovic in the second round. American Rajeev Ram upset 16th-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. He will play Marcel Granollers in the second round. Granollers outlasted Jurgen Zopp 6-1, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. No. 17 seed Kevin Anderson, No. 20 seed Andreas Seppi and No. 21 seed Mikhail Youzhny avoided the upset bug. Anderson took down Daniel Brands 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, Seppi beat Xavier Malisse 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 and Youzhny got past Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). Evgeny Donskoy cruised past 29th-seeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), while Russian Alex Bogomolov Jr. outlasted 24th-seeded Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5). Other first-round wins came from former Australian Open runner-up and former top-10 star Marcos Baghdatis, Peter Gojowczyk, Tim Smyczek, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Somdev Devvarman. Shawn Kelley Jersey . -- The Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Sidney Rice have agreed to terms on a deal. Adam Eaton Jersey . Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and three RBIs, Michael Brantley also homered and the Indians beat the injury-riddled Minnesota Twins 9-4 Thursday for their first three-game winning streak this season. http://www.officialnationalsgearshop.com/Nationals-Anthony-Rendon-Kids-Jersey/ . Price was hurt at the start of Wednesdays practice after facing just one shot as the team worked on their power play. He left the ice in discomfort and appeared to be favouring his leg. A Habs source told TSNs John Lu that Price suffered the injury in Sochi and not before the Olympics. Tanner Roark Jersey .com) - The Eastern Conferences best team takes on one of its worst Tuesday night when the Atlanta Hawks pay a visit to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Kevin Long Jersey . Dwyane Wade took over in the fourth quarter. NEW YORK -- The Toronto Blue Jays placed left-handed reliever Brett Cecil on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained left groin and recalled right-hander Steve Delabar from Triple-A Buffalo. Delabar, just sent down Tuesday, and Cecil were both All-Stars last season. In other news, infielder Brett Lawrie was out of the lineup against the New York Yankees after getting hit on the back of his left hand by a pitch Wednesday night. X-rays were negative but manager John Gibbons said Lawries hand was swollen and he couldnt grip a bat. "He needs a day," Gibbons said. Juan Francisco played third base, with Steve Tolleson at second. Lawrie, hitting .237 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs, has been starting in both spots this season. Designated hitter Adam Lind remained out with a bruised right foot. Gibbons hopes Lawrie and Lind will be available this weekend in Cincinnati. Cecil left Fridays gaame in Baltimore with groin tightness and rested for a few days before returning to the mound Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.dddddddddddd He got two outs but walked in a run and gave up a bases-loaded triple to Brian McCann. Gibbons said Cecils groin didnt feel great during his outing. The reliever is 0-3 with a 3.76 ERA and three saves in 32 appearances. In addition, the Blue Jays announced that minor league lefty Ricky Romero had season-ending surgery on his left knee to clean out quadriceps tendon inflammation. The operation was performed Tuesday by Dr. Neal Attrache in Los Angeles, and Romero is expected to need about six months to recover. Drafted sixth overall in 2005, the 29-year-old Romero was a major league All-Star three years ago, when he went 15-11 with a 2.92 ERA for the Blue Jays. But he has struggled since then and spent this season at Triple-A, going 0-3 with a 5.50 ERA in nine starts. ' ' '